Ravens big board: Options at No. 30 starting to come into focus (2024)

The Baltimore Ravens have enough experience drafting in the 30s where the uncertainty of what will happen with all the picks in front of them won’t be an unfamiliar feeling.

Three years ago, they made a pick at No. 31, selecting outside linebacker Odafe Oweh with the selection they obtained from the Kansas City Chiefs in the Orlando Brown Jr. trade. They selected quarterback Lamar Jackson with the No. 32 pick in 2018 after trading back in the first round.

Other first-round picks in the 30s produced safety Matt Elam, who went No. 32 in 2013 and is in the conversation as the organization’s biggest draft bust; and tight end Todd Heap, the 31st pick in 2001 who is in the team’s Ring of Honor.

In other words, drafting late in the first round has produced a mixed bag for Baltimore.

This year, the Ravens need to hit. General manager Eric DeCosta has been relatively busy in recent days on the free-agent market, but many of his moves have been depth signings, which are nonetheless important. But the Ravens have some holes along their offensive line, where they’ve lost three 2023 starters, and at edge rusher and cornerback. They are also still looking to add to their offseason wide receiver mix, which is a yearly pursuit.

The Ravens currently have nine picks, including one each in the first, second, third, fifth and sixth rounds, and two each in the fourth and seventh rounds. The focus, though, leading into the 2024 NFL Draft will be on what the Ravens will do with the No. 30 pick in the first round.

Their options on April 25 are starting to come into focus. Let’s take a look at 10 of them (where they rank on Dane Brugler’s big board is in parentheses):

Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State (No. 28)

Coleman’s a polarizing prospect with some questions about his vertical speed. Yet, the 6-foot-3, 213-pound receiver brings a skill set the Ravens lack. He’s a big and physical receiver who specializes in making contested catches and playing “above the rim.” His ability to make highlight reel catches speaks to his size, physicality and ball skills. Selecting a fourth first-round receiver in six years is probably a stretch for Baltimore, but Coleman certainly would diversify the team’s receiving corps.

Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa (No. 23)

Alabama’s Terrion Arnold and Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell are the consensus top corners in the draft, but DeJean is a strong candidate to be the third one off the board. At 6-foot-1 and 207 pounds, he has the size and athleticism to make a quick transition to the NFL. He’s a playmaker with seven interceptions and three pick sixes in his final two college seasons, and he’s also a physical tackler and explosive blitzer. Some pundits feel he’ll eventually end up at safety depending on what defensive scheme he’s in, but the Ravens love versatile defensive backs. He’s also a standout punt returner, which would be attractive for a Ravens team that lost Devin Duvernay in free agency.

Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma (No. 18)

Several offensive linemen, including Notre Dame’s Joe Alt, Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, Washington’s Troy Fautanu, Penn State’s Olu Fashanu and Alabama’s JC Latham, are expected to be gone by the time Baltimore is on the clock. Guyton is probably a long shot to still be there. If he is, it would make for a relatively easy decision for DeCosta and company. Guyton (6-foot-7, 328 pounds) is a plug-and-play right tackle with extreme upside due to his athleticism and range. He didn’t play a ton of college football, so there’s a rawness to his game. However, there is so much to work with and the Ravens trust their ability to develop offensive linemen.

Laiatu Latu, OLB, UCLA (No. 22)

Teams will have to be comfortable with Latu’s medicals. He’ll need to be more consistent as an edge setter, too. As far as a pure pass rusher, Latu is widely considered the best in this draft class. He had 23 1/2 sacks and 34 tackles for loss over his final two college seasons. He also had an FBS-best 24.6 percent pass-rush win rate in his final season. The 6-foot-4, 261-pound outside linebacker has a strong understanding of pass-rush moves and fundamentals and plays with outstanding effort. He’d check a ton of boxes for the Ravens, who need more pass-rush help.

Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia (No. 17)

Mims is in the same boat as Guyton in that it’s unlikely he’ll still be available for the Ravens. However, if one of the projected early-to-mid first-round tackles falls, it could be Mims because he has limited experience (he started just eight games in college) and has battled some injuries. Mims, though, has all the tools to be a standout right tackle at the next level. At 6-foot-7, 330 pounds, he has the ideal size and length for the position. He plays with power and awareness. If not for the injury concerns, he’d almost certainly be hearing his name in the first half of the first round.

Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas (No. 35)

The former Longhorn has been a hot name in the pre-draft process with pundits predicting that he’ll be taken sooner than people think. It’s easy to see why. Mitchell has the size (6-foot-4, 192 pounds), speed (4.34 in the 40-yard dash) and ball skills to become a front-line receiver in the NFL. There were some inconsistencies with his performance at Texas and his route running needs polishing. However, the Ravens would be getting a big-play threat, proficient in separating, catching jump balls and deep passes, and picking up yards after the catch. He averaged 15.4 yards per reception at Texas and had 18 touchdowns in 35 college games. He started his career at Georgia, playing under current Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken.

Jordan Morgan, OT/G, Arizona (No. 32)

If the Ravens are determined to get a tackle at No. 30, Morgan figures to be one of their most likely options. Most projections have him coming off the board either late in the first round or early in the second. He’s not physically imposing at 6-foot-4 and 312 pounds, but he’s very athletic and shows good footwork and fundamentals. He played mostly left tackle at Arizona. Yet, he has the tools and smarts to move to the right side. Some evaluators think he projects best as a guard. He’s also now a year removed from an ACL injury, so a team should be getting a healthier player than the one it watched on tape.

Chop Robinson, OLB, Penn State (No. 26)

The Gaithersburg, Md., native put on a show at the NFL Scouting Combine, displaying his speed and physical gifts. He’s an explosive pass rusher who plays with a strong combination of athleticism and power. At 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, he has room to grow, too. The question for the Ravens, though: Would they be willing to take another first-round shot at a Penn State edge rusher with eye-popping physical traits but modest college production? Oweh, Baltimore’s first-round pick in 2021, had made progress, but the Ravens need immediate pass-rush help and would have to be convinced that Robinson, who had 11 1/2 sacks in 30 college games, could provide it.

Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU (No. 38)

Most mock drafts have him going in the second round, but the league-wide need and interest in tackles could push him into the first. Suamataia got extensive snaps at both left and right tackle in college and carries a nice combination of size (6-foot-4, 329 pounds) and athleticism. There are questions about just how high his ceiling is and whether he’d be able to consistently handle speed rushers on the next level. Ravens offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris has a strong track record in developing offensive linemen, and there’s a lot to like about Suamataia.

Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson (No. 25)

The Ravens love long and athletic corners who can run, and Wiggins fits that profile. He’s 6-foot-2, 185 pounds and clocked a 4.28 in the 40-yard dash, so he can keep pace with any receiver. He’s lanky, so there’s some concern that he could get overmatched physically on contested throws and jump balls. However, he’s held up just fine to this point. He allowed only one catch over 20 yards in his final college season. He also has two defensive touchdowns and a blocked kick on his resume. He’s a name to watch if an offensive lineman the Ravens covet isn’t available at No. 30.

Others of potential interest: Graham Barton, OT/G, Duke; Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia; Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia; Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama; Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri; Darius Robinson, OLB, Missouri; Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas.

(Top photo of Cooper DeJean: Jeffrey Becker / USA Today)